Makaton Training for Early Years Settings
Practical Makaton Training for Early Years Teams
The early years are an important time for developing communication, interaction and understanding.
I provide practical Makaton training for nurseries, preschools, children's centres and Early Years organisations, helping practitioners develop confidence using signs, symbols and visual communication alongside speech.
Training can be delivered in person across the South West or online for organisations anywhere in the UK.
Supporting Communication in the Early Years
Makaton can provide an additional way for children to communicate and understand what is happening around them.
Training can help Early Years practitioners:
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Develop confidence using Makaton signs and symbols
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Support children with speech, language and communication needs
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Use visual communication alongside spoken language
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Support understanding of everyday routines
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Give children additional ways to express choices and needs
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Encourage participation and interaction
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Create more inclusive communication environments
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Develop a consistent approach across the staff team
Training for Your Whole Early Years Team
I can provide training for a wide range of Early Years professionals, including:
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Nursery practitioners
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Preschool teams
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Early Years teachers
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SENCOs
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Inclusion teams
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Children's centre staff
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Early Years leadership teams
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Larger Early Years organisations with multiple settings
Training can be delivered to individual teams or larger groups of staff.
Makaton Levels, Workshops & Bespoke Training
Your training can be tailored to the needs of your setting.
Makaton Levels 1–4
Structured training for staff who want to develop their Makaton knowledge progressively.
Makaton Workshops
Focused sessions around specific communication needs or areas of practice.
Bespoke Training
Training shaped around your children, routines, environment and staff requirements.
Regular Training
Ongoing sessions can support continued development and help new members of staff build their Makaton knowledge.
Making Makaton Practical
My approach focuses on helping practitioners move from learning Makaton to using Makaton.
Rather than treating Makaton as something that only happens during a training session, I encourage staff to consider how it can be incorporated naturally into everyday Early Years practice.
This might include routines, activities, transitions, play and opportunities for children to make choices and communicate.
Building Staff Confidence
Learning new communication skills can feel daunting at first.
My training is practical, interactive and supportive, giving staff opportunities to practise what they are learning and understand how it can be used within their own setting.
The aim is for practitioners to leave training feeling more confident and equipped to use Makaton in everyday situations.
Experienced Makaton Tutor
I am a Licensed Makaton Tutor with over 30 years of professional and personal experience across health, social care, Early Years and education.
My previous professional experience includes working within Early Years and supporting children and young people with additional communication needs.
Training Across the UK
In-person: Available across the South West.
Online: Available to Early Years organisations across the UK.
Discuss Your Early Years Training Needs
If your nursery, preschool or Early Years organisation would like to develop staff confidence in Makaton and visual communication, get in touch to discuss your requirements.